DALLAS — Kyrie Irving put forth a stellar performance, scoring 35 points as the Dallas Mavericks secured a 111-103 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, marking their third consecutive win.
Irving showcased his shooting prowess, converting 11 of 22 field goals, including 5 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc, while also making all eight of his free throw attempts.
In his return to a Mavericks roster missing three key centers due to injuries, P.J. Washington Jr. made a significant impact, contributing 20 of his 24 points during the first half. He had previously sat out the last three games before the All-Star break due to an ankle injury.
For New Orleans, Zion Williamson led the scoring with 29 points, and Trey Murphy III added 20 points. The Pelicans have struggled recently, losing 11 of their last 12 matches.
In noteworthy moments, Kelly Olynyk made his debut for the Pelicans after missing four games due to a trade from Toronto on February 6. In 23 minutes on the court, Olynyk registered four points, three rebounds, and three assists. Additionally, Williamson surpassed the 5,000 career points milestone in just 203 games, which ranks him as the third-fastest player to achieve this feat, following Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
The Mavericks’ current winning streak is their longest since a seven-game stretch from November 25 to December 7. Naji Marshall also made a notable contribution off the bench for Dallas, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
A critical moment in the game occurred when CJ McCollum sank a 25-foot 3-pointer, narrowing the deficit to 103-99 with 2:53 remaining. Marshall quickly answered with a 3-pointer of his own from the right corner, which was followed by Irving’s three-pointer with 57 seconds left, solidifying a 109-99 lead for the Mavericks.
Statistically, the Mavericks excelled in their three-point shooting, knocking down 16 of 44 attempts compared to the Pelicans’ 8 of 27, which helped offset New Orleans’ 56-36 advantage in points scored in the paint.
Looking ahead, the Pelicans are set to face the San Antonio Spurs in the first of two consecutive home games on Sunday night, while the Mavericks will travel to take on the Golden State Warriors on the same day.